How’s your spring wardrobe essentials update coming along?
Over the past five weeks, I’ve offered shopping suggestions and style tips for casual, work, shoes and accessories.
Today, I thought I’d bring all of those ideas together in one spring capsule collection.
(You may be wondering why I’m yet to talk swimsuits and other such beach essentials … stay tuned. I’ve got a whole resort week coming up on the blog and we’ll cover off on these items hopefully in time before any planned summer escapes. I’m doing a little escape of my own and am heading in October to Bali for a girlfriend’s 40th so I’m very much in resort wear planning mode!)
The idea behind this 13-piece capsule collection is to give you a snapshot of how just a few key spring wardrobe pieces can work together to create a number of different looks.
It will hopefully inspire you to be more mindful before making any purchases but also to look in your wardrobe to see what you already have. Think about how you can make new and existing pieces better work for you.
I’ve kept this spring capsule collection mostly on the smart casual side with the addition of a couple of pieces to take you through to the party season.
1. Witchery linen tee $49.95 | 2. Country Road top $129 | 3. Seed tee $49.95 | 4. Country Road shorts $69.95 | 5. Blue Illusion pants $109.95 | 6. Blue Illusion knit $129.95 | 7. Witchery blazer $169.95 | 8. Blue Bungalow scarf $29 | 9. Red Phoenix Emporium earrings $42 | 10. Sacha Drake gown $299 | 11. Witchery dress $169.95 | 12. Siren flats $129.95 @ Style Tread | 13. Tony Bianco heels $149.95 @ Style Tread
Style notes
I may like red but you may be more of yellow, pink or aqua kind of accent girl. Whatever your colour poison, the easiest way to incorporate it is to work it in from a base of this season’s hot monochrome trend.
You may need more workwear pieces than casual. Substitute out a mix of pieces to suit YOUR lifestyle.
I’ve been quite restrained with the accessories here. I don’t know who I am either. You can get more inspiration here and I fully approve the wearing of more accessories. Always.
Likewise with shoes, a pair of flats and a pair of heels in neutral tones will see you through the season but, of course, there is always room for one more pair.
13 outfit combinations
1 + 4 + 6 + 12
1 + 5 + 9 + 13
1 + 5 + 12 + 7
1 + 5 + 12 + 6
2 + 4 + 12 + 8
2 + 10 + 12
2 + 5 + 12
3 + 4 + 8 + 12
3 + 5 + 6 + 12
3 + 5 + 7 + 9 + 13
10 + 9 + 13
10 + 9 + 12 + 7
11 + 7 + 13 + 9
Can you pick another outfit combination? Why not try this exercise at home with clothes you already own?
Comments 27
Love this idea Nikki
This is BRILLIANT! Thanks Nikki!
Thanks Emily
Great post! I missed this one and it’s fab. I love the idea of shopping your wardrobe and adding a small amount of items for a really on trend wardrobe. LOVE.
I do too … and if you lay it all out on your bed like this, it’s easier to see what can be re-worked with something else.x
#11 is sooooo cute!!! And I am really in to that colour right now.
Gorgeous colour for you Kimmi!
Some wonderful tips from both you and fellow stylers. I like the idea if putting them on the bed and taking pics. Also, I’m guilty of wearing these same 20% too so this may help. Cheers. Have a great weekend all.
Yes, it certainly will … a little bit of work will go a long way!
I LOVE this post, Nikki! Thanks so much! Love the comments too – really good practical advice to make the most of what you’ve got. X
Thanks Nic … it’s so easy to be seduced by the new but often we’ve got key pieces already there and just need a couple of updates!
Hi Nikki, I like the idea of a capsule wardrobe as I’m definately guilty of wearing 20% of my clothes 80% of the time! Might as well make the 20% the best mix-and-match that I can! Looking forward to trying on those CR shorts when I get to a store in 3 weeks (I need to try before I buy when it comes to my lower half). Thanks for reminding me to take stock of what I’ve already got (my summer clothes are stashed in Miss 6’s wardrobe) as it’s SLOWLY warming up over here xx
Oh I’m glad it’s slowly warming up for you … yes, do a pre-emptive strike with the clothes stashed in your daughter’s wardrobe. You may be able to get the capsule formula going!
I fell in love this week with an Akira dress, while looking for something special to wear to my lovely brother-in-law’s wedding. Given the cost of that little number (+ accessories!) I will need to severely curb any other shopping if I make this purchase.
Now I am going to use this as inspiration to consider what I already have in my wardrobe for Spring. That way I can exercise some discipline that will allow me to buy the lovely dress but still dress well at other times in what I already own: capsule it is!
I like your thinking Johanne … and yes, I’m sure if you got out your key pieces from previous years and played around with different combinations, you’d be able to hot foot it and pick up that Akira dress!
Love all these outfits Nikki That is what I have been trying to do this week find some different tops that go with my patterned pants to make them look like I have more clothes ,I found a gorgeous Cobalt linen tee with leather accents around the neckline at Liz Jordan marked down from $80 to $20 and i also have an orange top and black as well,the pants might be new as well they are orange ,black and blue and white and I found 2 very different black tops to go with the other pairs,also a new stripey maxi from Katies in black,green,white and coral stripes that goes with my coral blazer.
I like having a capsule wardrobe so you know everything goes together.How exciting going to Bali for a girly trip ,can’t wait to see what you have planned to wear!
A little bit of planning goes a long way Lisa … love how you’re approaching it. And yes, can’t wait for Bali.
Really like the Witchery dress. Alas it is too short for any but the young!
Hi Daisy, on an average height woman the dress would come to just above the knee. Models used in those images are generally 6ft tall.
Lots of things I love on there, but that Jacket and scarf are delightful!
Two things that would complete a lot of spring outfits Bev!
Hoorah! I now know where to go for my new long shorts! Loved my Witchery ones from last year but none there this year (so far). Off to Country Road. Might be a bit daring & get the red.
This also gives me an idea to plan out new purchases in a similar way; put all the pics together in a file to see how it all goes together, then hit the shops!
Thanks, Nikki!
Exactly Anna … even putting them out on the bed like this and playing with different combinations, photographing as you go will help.
I never shop at places like Country Road or Witchery but I kind of like the stripey top and orange frock arrangement. You need some nice Red Phoenix necklaces to kind of finalise the whole shebang. x
RPE necklaces finalise everything!